KDKA-TV and WPXI-TV, two of the major broadcast news outlets in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, have decided to ground their shared news helicopter, which they had been using for several years to cover breaking news and traffic stories from the air. The news helicopter, which was leased from a third party, was one of only two news choppers left in the Pittsburgh market.
Chris Cotugno, the president and general manager of KDKA-TV, confirmed to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Monday that the agreement between the two stations had ended, and that neither station planned to replace the chopper with one of their own. He said that the decision was partly motivated by the increasing use of drones by both stations, which can provide better and more versatile aerial views than a helicopter.
“We have a team of FCC licensed photojournalist drone operators bringing our viewers pictures that can get to places where a helicopter can’t …,” Cotugno said via email. “We can fly lower and closer to the action and the viewers will have a better viewing experience. With numerous operators flying, we can be in many places at the same time.”
Kevin Hayes, the vice president and general manager of WPXI-TV, did not respond to the Post-Gazette’s request for comment on the matter. Scott Trabandt, the news director of WPXI-TV, said via text that the station had been using drones for years and would continue to do so.
“We have utilized drones for years to provide aerial views of important news, weather and sports events,” Trabandt said. “We will continue to use all the tools at our disposal to get the best video to our viewers as quickly as possible.”
WTAE-TV remains the only station with a news helicopter in Pittsburgh
The move by KDKA-TV and WPXI-TV means that WTAE-TV, the ABC affiliate owned by Hearst, will be the only station in Pittsburgh with its news helicopter, which is branded as Sky4. Charles W. Wolfertz III, the president and general manager of WTAE-TV, said in a statement that the station would maintain its chopper and that Sky4 would be the only active news gathering helicopter in the market.
A WTAE-TV spokesperson confirmed that the station also used drones as part of its news gathering process, but said that the station wanted to have the ability to choose the best tool for each story.
“We want the ability to choose the best tool that allows us to tell the stories of our community,” the spokesperson said.
News helicopters have advantages and disadvantages over drones
News helicopters have been a popular feature of local TV news for decades, as they can provide live and exclusive aerial footage of fires, accidents, chases, and other events. However, they also have high operating costs, safety risks, and environmental impacts, which have led some stations to switch to drones or other alternatives.
Drones, which are small unmanned aerial vehicles equipped with cameras, can offer some advantages over helicopters, such as lower costs, easier access, and less noise. However, they also have some limitations, such as shorter flight time, battery life, and range, as well as legal and ethical issues, such as privacy, security, and regulation.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration, drones used for commercial purposes, such as news gathering, require an operator to obtain a license, which is relatively easy to get and does not require the same training or skill as piloting a helicopter. However, drone operators must also follow certain rules, such as maintaining line of sight with the drone, flying below 400 feet, and avoiding restricted areas.
